Isabella County
County
St. John's Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant
St. John's Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant
Official seal of Isabella County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Isabella County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°39′N 84°50′W / 43.65°N 84.84°W / 43.65; -84.84
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1831 (created)
1859 (organized)[1]
Named forQueen Isabella I of Castile
SeatMount Pleasant
Largest cityMount Pleasant
Area
 • Total578 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total64,394
 • Density124/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.isabellacounty.org

Isabella County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 64,394.[2] Its county seat is Mount Pleasant.[3] The area was known as Ojibiway Besse, meaning "the place of the Ojibwa".[4] Isabelle County contains the Isabella Indian Reservation, on which members of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation live.

History

Isabella County was described by action of the Michigan Territory legislature in 1831, but for purposes of population, revenue, and judicial matters, it was assigned to nearby counties. Its area was partitioned from unorganized territory plus a portion of Mackinac, which had existed as a Territorial County since 1818.

The Michigan Territory was admitted to the Union as Michigan state in early 1837. By 1859, Isabella had sufficient settlement and interest in self-government that the state legislature authorized its organization.[1] Based on a suggestion by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, the U.S. Indian agent in this area, the county was named after Queen Isabella I of Castile, who with her husband Ferdinand commissioned Columbus's expedition to the New World.[1][5]

Isabella County comprises the Mount Pleasant, Michigan micropolitan statistical area in Mid-Michigan. The county contains the Isabella Indian Reservation, which has a total area of 217.67 square miles (563.8 km2). It is the major land base of the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation. Part of the county seat of Mount Pleasant is located within the reservation.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) are land and 5.0 square miles (13 km2) (0.9%) are water.[6]

Highways

  • US 10 – cuts across NE corner of county. Enters at Clare; runs ESE to east county line. Exits to Coleman.
  • US 127 – runs north–south through the eastern central part of county. Passes Rosebush and Mt. Pleasant, runs SE to Shepherd, then runs south into Gratiot County.
  • M-20 – runs east–west across lower central part of county. Enters from Remus. Ends at Mt. Pleasant.[7]
  • (proposed) – I-73 - project in Michigan is inactive

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,443—
18704,113185.0%
188012,159195.6%
189018,78454.5%
190022,78421.3%
191023,0291.1%
192022,610−1.8%
193021,126−6.6%
194025,98223.0%
195028,96411.5%
196035,34822.0%
197044,59426.2%
198054,11021.3%
199054,6240.9%
200063,35116.0%
201070,31111.0%
202064,394−8.4%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[12] there were 63,351 people, 22,425 households, and 13,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile (42 people/km2). There were 24,528 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.51% White, 2.75% Native American, 1.93% Black or African American, 1.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. 2.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.0% were of German, 10.1% English, 10.0% Irish, 7.5% American and 6.0% Polish ancestry, 95.9% spoke English and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 22,425 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.40% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.03.

The county population contained 20.30% under the age of 18, 29.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,262, and the median income for a family was $45,953. Males had a median income of $32,270 versus $24,180 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,242. 7.40% of families and 20.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

United States presidential election results for Isabella County, Michigan[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 14,815 50.26% 14,072 47.74% 589 2.00%
2016 12,338 48.31% 11,404 44.65% 1,798 7.04%
2012 10,800 44.52% 13,038 53.74% 422 1.74%
2008 11,220 39.49% 16,679 58.71% 511 1.80%
2004 11,754 48.19% 12,334 50.57% 302 1.24%
2000 10,053 47.71% 10,228 48.55% 788 3.74%
1996 7,460 38.57% 9,635 49.81% 2,247 11.62%
1992 7,706 34.97% 8,784 39.86% 5,547 25.17%
1988 10,362 56.07% 7,960 43.07% 160 0.87%
1984 12,215 65.00% 6,435 34.24% 143 0.76%
1980 10,407 50.24% 7,293 35.21% 3,015 14.55%
1976 10,577 57.66% 7,281 39.69% 487 2.65%
1972 9,682 55.47% 7,446 42.66% 326 1.87%
1968 7,111 57.37% 4,450 35.90% 835 6.74%
1964 4,672 39.84% 7,040 60.03% 15 0.13%
1960 7,880 63.88% 4,431 35.92% 24 0.19%
1956 8,415 72.41% 3,183 27.39% 23 0.20%
1952 8,222 73.54% 2,881 25.77% 77 0.69%
1948 5,485 67.23% 2,487 30.49% 186 2.28%
1944 6,356 71.02% 2,522 28.18% 71 0.79%
1940 7,019 70.96% 2,828 28.59% 44 0.44%
1936 4,051 46.79% 3,871 44.71% 736 8.50%
1932 4,211 48.71% 4,272 49.42% 162 1.87%
1928 4,926 73.13% 1,762 26.16% 48 0.71%
1924 5,245 77.08% 1,208 17.75% 352 5.17%
1920 5,089 73.82% 1,627 23.60% 178 2.58%
1916 2,700 53.91% 2,143 42.79% 165 3.29%
1912 1,417 29.71% 1,389 29.13% 1,963 41.16%
1908 3,171 63.18% 1,658 33.03% 190 3.79%
1904 3,547 70.97% 1,321 26.43% 130 2.60%
1900 2,969 58.64% 1,996 39.42% 98 1.94%
1896 2,424 46.71% 2,679 51.63% 86 1.66%
1892 1,859 45.42% 1,762 43.05% 472 11.53%
1888 2,154 51.46% 1,841 43.98% 191 4.56%
1884 1,617 48.78% 1,610 48.57% 88 2.65%

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Isabella County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.
Isabella Indian Reservation with underlying local boundaries

Cities

Villages

Charter township

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Indian reservation

Education

The Gratiot–Isabella Regional Education Service District, based in Ithaca, services the students in the county. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services, early education programs, and technical career pathways for students of its districts.[14]

Isabella County is served by the following regular public school districts:[15]

The county also has the following independent charter districts:

  • Flextech High School - Shepherd
  • Renaissance Public School Academy

Isabella County has the following private schools:[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bibliography on Isabella County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ History of Isabella County Archived May 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Isabella County, Michigan website (accessed April 21, 2007)
  5. ↑ Isabella County History and Information Archived December 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Genealogy Inc. (accessed April 21, 2007)
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  7. ↑ Google (September 6, 2018). "Isabella County MI" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  8. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  13. ↑ US Election Atlas
  14. ↑ "GIRESD Local School Districts". Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  15. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Isabella County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  16. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Private Schools - Isabella County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 14, 2023.

43°39′N 84°50′W / 43.65°N 84.84°W / 43.65; -84.84

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